Meeting with "ALISI"

October 11, 2010 it was my second day meeting not with our mentor, but our boss lol. This was another great day because Alisi also took me to Dennys, wasnt i just thee luckiest student ever. Two days in a roll to "Dennys". Okay back to business, meeting with Alisi was actually a great one-on-one opportunity to ask questions, fix mistakes, what needs to improved, etc. She gave me a better understanding about our powerpoint in December. Alisi also showed me how to understand myself which was in fact funny.

She also told me her expectations, and what we want to get out of this whole intern.

I really enjoyed the many storys she shared about our community, and how we can make a difference in some areas. All we need is a voice "Ourselves" by doing this we need to be involved with alot of community exposure. So i really enjoyed breakfast with Alisi, she gave me alot of tips on helping others get involved. As well as myself, also to recommend this program to alot of youths and young-adults.

Thanks so much Alisi...Ofa atu!!

Meeting my mentor "LORRAINE"

October 08, 2010 was thee first day i met with my mentor Lorraine. I can truly say that she is an extrodinary person inside and out. I was lucky to have my first meeting at Dennys..mmmmhhh..we discuss so many topics, we also got carried away in our life storys. We talked about the importance of education, and a little bit about time management. But to be honest, we had more fun getting to know each other. Dont worry that is not thee only meeting we will ever do this, but it sure was the first. Getting to know each other plays an importance role in our life, so that meeting was great and it meant alot.

Next, i know we will touch base on more things such as: advice, and help.

Again, i really enjoy having dinner with Lorraine. I got to know more about her and her family. It was really good hearing about her experience in school, and to say that she is still her in 20s with a Master Degree. Now that is a Role-Model!!!

Thanks Lorraine...much love to you and work!!

OCAPICA (Mentor Dinner)

Dinner at the Carson civic center was truely a blessing. Not only having a great program to be in, also having mentors to help us not only on our projects but what we expect to get out of this program. I really love how Alisi put so much work in contacting the mentors for us and sharing some of their fun and exciting programs.

The ice breaker done by Lorraine was also fun as well, not only did we get to know a couple of peoples background but also learning how to in silence under thee pressure lol.

Most, of all thee last part of the day when Lisi seperated us into groups to discuss what we expect or what we want to learn from these mentors. It was a great way to understand the mentors from their own point of view and also see some of their feedback. I loved how "Time Management" was our main focus, something i need alot of help in. Other then the whole dinner, this was by far a great gathering to reunite with our fellow intern as well.

A GREAT program, set-up by GREAT people!! thank you all for makin it happen for us.

Community Exposure: Tai Ko Project (TCSC)

The Tai Kwo project was an event that TCSC was invited to, and they decided to take 80 people along with them because that was the amount of ticket that was given to them for free. So they invited everyone in the community that was willing to go and watch this performance at the Ampe Theatre in hollywood.

80 people didnt show up but at least 60 at the most, that was still more then enough. The best part was the taking the bus all together there, it was a very fun and adventerous trip for everyone to attend. Not only did we get to mingle with a group of students, but also with parents as well. TCSC are very amazing people to do communit exposure with.

The great thing about this event was watching the little kids play professional drumming. It has me thinking! why? i never had such a great talent at a very young age lol. But from the bus ride, to the performance, to the food was great. So a big thank you to TCSC for having us with them.

Community Exposure: Language Literacy (TCSC)

This is a Tongan class that is taken at TCSC for tongan students from the ages 5-18+ this class is taught by Sisi Satini a student at BYU Hawaii, but has recently came to TCSC to do her intern. And one of her intern was to teach the kids that are not only tongan ethnic but other race as well how to talk in tongan in the proper way. This is a 8week class and is taught every wednesday and thursday from 3 to 4:30 or 5 the latest.

My favorite thing about this class is embarssing ourself in front of those student that speaks tongan on a daily basis but it all good, that the whole purpose of this class is to learn right! Also another one of my favorite thing about this class is long the tonga proverbs. Why? because it has so many meaning and different ways to say just a one word. Such as toko, that can mean a stick or a brother or sister or maybe a cane. You see how one word can mean so many things.

I also enjoyed meeting new people that comes everyday to join our class, we got to learn a lil bit about everything about each other. I love our teachers Sisi Satini and Lupe Fifita, they are two beautiful and humble young ladys!!

CSUF (Researcher) 08/05/10

Last Day at CSUF was quiet and lonely. Not only because Mia had finished her hours a day before me but also because no one else was there. Not even the researcher Ruth, she was coming a little bit later around 2pm, because i had arrived to school around 7am. So it was bit loney and quiet and i was just coming towards the end of transcribing my last part.

As i sat there, i was just thinking how am blessed i received this opportunity to work with OCAPICA as a summer intern. Also how am going to miss my warm heart researcher Ruth, and of course Sora but i really didnt get to know her like i knew Ruth. I can say i will never forget this once in a lifetime opportunity so i loved and enjoyed every moment while it lasted.

I LOOOOOOVVVVVEEEE YOU RUTH & SORA...oh and of course AUSTIN lol.

Workshop (Carson Civic Center)

The joint hearing of the Asian Pacific Islander Legislative was really amazing. Not only did we get to hear from the Mayor of carson but also from everyone in the different programs such as: SNNA, OCAPICA, GCN, TCSC, etc. It was just amazing because we not only want to hear from the world, but we want our Pacific Islanders voices to be heard.

My most favorite panel was youth violence. How we have our own people killing each other for no reasons, and it is our job to go and reach out to those people and make a difference. I also enjoyed OCAPICA intern speaker from last year. Sina Fifita, she was talking about her experience in the PIHCPP. I really enjoyed how she said she traveled all the way to sacramento to finsh up her research on youth violence and how she learned so many things from youth out in Sacramento.

This was also a great opportunity to meet with other staff members from different places and also meeting new friends you might need in the future, so this was also a great workshop we attended together.